Comprehensive Analysis and Design for VSU Wireless Network Security

This report addresses the wireless network security challenges faced by Vancouver State University (VSU). The study begins by identifying the primary issues: open wireless connections and the potential for attackers to access sensitive information. The analysis delves into the vulnerabilities associated with these issues, highlighting the risks of unsecured network access. The proposed solution involves implementing Cisco 802.1x access points to enhance security and network performance. The report details the network design, emphasizing the authentication and authorization processes of 802.1x, and evaluates the effectiveness of the proposed infrastructure. The report concludes with a discussion of ethical implications and references relevant literature on wireless security and network design. The design utilizes routers, switches, firewalls, and access points to create a secure and efficient network environment. The report emphasizes the importance of authentication to prevent unauthorized access and protect campus information.

WIRELESS NETWORK AND SECURITY

Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Identification.........................................................................................................................................2
Analyse..................................................................................................................................................3
Network Design.....................................................................................................................................4
Evaluation..............................................................................................................................................5
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................6
References.............................................................................................................................................6
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Introduction
Scope of this project is creating the secure wireless network connection for Vancouver State
University (VSU). This university is located in Canada. The VSU campus has the 4000 students and
400 staffs and faculty. It also has small IT team to maintain the campus network security. The IT
team also deploying the latest technologies to do the campus wide technology projects. The VSU
campus current network has one or more network issues such as Open wireless connection and
attackers are accessing the campus sensitive information. So, the campus organization team decided
to create the secure wireless connection for VSU campus. The IT team resolving the current network
issues by using the implement the 802.1x access point. The Cisco 802.1x access point provides the
security and productivity of the network. It allows to authenticates users only accessing the campus
wireless connection. So, attackers are does not accessing the campus wireless connection. The IT
team will be identifying the two main issues in current network. After analyse the identified issues.
Then creating the secure wireless connection for VSU campus. Finally, evaluate the proposed
network solutions.
Identification
The VSU campus has two main issues. These are identified by IT team. These are,
 Open Wireless connection
 Attackers are accessing the university information’s
The VSU campus current network infrastructure does not provides the security and productivity of
the network. It has one or more network issues. These issues are identified by IT team. The IT team
in VSU campus to maintains the network security for an University. The Open wireless connection is
one of network issues for VSU university [1]. The open wireless connection allows to everyone
accessing the network without authenticate the users. So wireless users are accessing the campus
information’s. Another important network issue is attacker. The attackers are attack the campus
network by using the various attack methodology. The attackers are also accessing the campus
sensitive information. These issues are resolved by using the cisco 802.1x access point. Current
access point does not provide the secure and productivity of the network. So, the IT decided to
change the access point as 802.1x. It provides the secure wireless connection for VSU campus. The
8021x access point is used to provide the high network performance and effective network
infrastructure for an VSU campus. This access point does not allow the users to accessing the
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wireless network. It first authenticates the user after connect the wireless network. So, attackers are
difficult to accessing the university sensitive information’s [2].
Analyse
Analyse the identified issues to creates the secure and effective network infrastructure for
VSU campus. The Identified issues are open wireless connection and attackers. The Open wireless
connection provides the various problems for university. It makes are various risk for VSU campus.
The open wireless connection provides the unsecured network for an VSU campus. The campus
information is send in plain text, the unauthorised users are easily capture the information over the
air [3]. If users log on to a website and applications that transferring the data in plain text or clear
text through open wireless network, the information’s are easily captured by unauthorised users to
accessing the information. This process is allowing an attacker to accessing your personal
information’s. If users turn on file sharing in the computer system, the attackers are easily accessing
the computer hard drive through open wireless network. The attackers are using the attack tools
capture the campus sensitive information through the network. the current network infrastructure
for VSU campus is to allow the multiple users to access the network. But it increases the network
costs, reduce the network coverage and it does not provide the security. Wireless connection risks
are listed below.
 The open wireless network does not need the authentication process to provide the
network connection for a user’s and it makes the opportunity to accessing the
information for attackers [4].
 The greatest network threat is the open and free wireless network. It provides the
ability to accessing the information for attackers to attack the campus personal
information like important mail, credit and debit card information etc. I
 It creates the malware distribution. To reduce the wireless connection problems by
using the following strategy such as turn off sharing, VPN connection, stay protected
and SSL connection.
To resolve the network issues by using and implement the cisco 802.1x access point. This access
point does not allow multiple users are accessing the wireless network. It first authenticates the
users, after connect the network [5]. It provides the secure network connection for VSU campus. It
also provides the effective and scalability of the network. The Cisco 802.1x access point reduces the
maintenance costs and operational costs to maintain the network infrastructure.
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Network Design
The Vancouver state university needs to create the secure wireless connection. The VSU has the
IT team to maintain the network security. The VSU campus is decided to create the secure network
with the help of IT team. The IT team decided to first identified the current network issues. After
analyse the identified network [6]. Then creates the secure wireless network connection for VSU
campus. The IT team was identified and analysed the current network issues. These issues are
resolved by implement the cisco 802.1x access point. It provides the secure and efficiency of the
network for VSU campus. The proposed network infrastructure for VSU campus is shown in below.
The Proposed network infrastructure is used to provide the high security of the network. It does
not allow the unauthorised users accessing the wireless connection because the proposed network
use the cisco 802.1x access point [7]. It does not allow the unauthorised users accessing the
network. It first authenticates the user after connect the wireless network. The 801.1x access point
has two main process such as authentication and authorization. These two processes are
successfully completed, after the users connect the wireless network. The proposed network
infrastructure uses the cisco routers, switches, access point, server and firewall. The firewall is used
to provide the secure connection. The network devices are connected with each other. The network
design Routers are connected to the core switches. The core switches are connected to the switches.
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The switches are connected to PC, printer and access point. The Routers are providing the secure
connection by using the firewall. The firewall is connected with the routers. The Firewall is used to
provide the productivity and security for the network. The Proposed network design is mainly
created to reduce the network issues. The Network design is implement the 802.1x access point.
Because it does not allow a user to accessing the wireless network.
The Visio file is attached here.
Evaluation
The wireless area network has been increased in every area like homes, public areas, business
and educational institutions based on the standard 802.11 access point. Many organizations use the
802.11b access point because it provides the 1 Mbps speed. It uses the one or more mechanisms to
provide the security of the data transmission. It also has network problems that is no control on the
communication medium [8]. the wired network connection uses the physical cables and fibre cable
to stop the attacks on cables but the wireless connection does not stop the attacks from the
attackers. The wireless connection enables the users to accessing the network with in the network
coverage range. The unauthorised users also accessing the wireless network. So sensitive
information’s are captured by the hackers or attackers. To resolve this issues by implement the
access point. The VSU campus proposed network infrastructure using the 802.1x access point to
resolve the identified issues.
The 802.1x access point provides the secure and productivity of the network. It uses the two
mechanisms to resolve the network issues like authorization and authentications. The Cisco 802.1x
access point authenticates the wireless users after connect the network. So unauthorised users are
does not use wireless connection and accessing the campus information’s. The attackers are difficult
to attack and accessing the VSU campus information’s. The Cisco 802.1x access point also provides
the greater network performance. In ethical implication, the proposed network infrastructure
provides the effective and scalability of network for VSU campus. Based on ethical implications, the
network issues are resolved by using the below mechanism.
 Shared key authentication
 Open system authentication
 Centralized authentication
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The 802.1x access point using the above mechanisms to resolve the network issues. The Cisco 802.1x
access point authenticates the users and it does allow the unauthorised users to connect the
wireless connection.
Conclusion
The Current VSU network infrastructure has the various network problems. The VSU campus
facing the various network issues. So, the organization team decided to create the new network
design and it provides the secure wireless connection for VSU campus. The VSU campus has the IT
team to maintain the network security for a campus. The organization tea challenged the IT team to
resolve the network issues. The IT team was to first identified the current network infrastructure
issues and analysed the identified network issues. After successfully created the proposed network
design. It provides the secure wireless network. It uses the cisco 802.1x access point to resolve the
identified network issues. This access point provides the security and productivity of the network. It
has the high-speed network connection. It provides the high network performance such as high
latency and band width. It also provides the flexibility and scalability of the network. The proposed
network design is done by implement the 802.1x access point. It authenticates the users after
connect the wireless network. So, unauthorised users are does not accessing the VSU campus
network. The Identified issues are analysed and discussed in detail. The proposed solutions was
evaluated based on ethical implications.
References
[1]J. Kurose and K. Ross, Computer networking. .
[2]NETworking. [Hong Kong]: Regional NET Coordinating Team, NET Section, CDI, EDB, 2013.
[3]J. Wang, Broadband wireless communications. [Place of publication not identified]: Springer-
Verlag New York, 2013.
[4]J. Smith, J. Woodhams, R. Marg, J. DiMaio, S. Bhasin and S. Ghosh, Controller-based wireless LAN
fundamentals. Indianapolis, Ind.: Cisco Press, 2011.
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[5]M. Gress, L. Johnson, J. Albesa, D. Khalyavin and F. Riesen, Deploying and troubleshooting Cisco
wireless LAN controllers. Indianapolis, Ind.: Cisco Press, 2010.
[6]W. Osterhage, Wireless security. Enfield, N.H.: Science Publishers, 2012.
[7]D. Forsberg, W. Moeller, V. Niemi and G. Horn, Lte security. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2014.
[8]T. Alpcan and T. Başar, Network security. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011.
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